The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offers positions available for trained orthopaedic surgeons interested in gaining further subspeciality experience.

The various services/ divisions include Adult Reconstruction, Foot and Ankle Surgery, Musculoskeletal Trauma Surgery, Musculoskeletal Oncology Surgery, Spine Surgery and Sports Surgery.

For interested applicants, please send a copy of your CV and the interested fellowship program to Ms Kelly Boo.

Adult Reconstruction Fellowship

The Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service provides diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for individuals with degenerative and inflammatory bone disease, bone injuries or deformities. 

Specializing in joint replacements of the hip & knee, our service utilizes a broad range of technology, including navigation and robotic-assisted surgery.  Our treatment is based on ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) principles and perform a large proportion of joint replacements as day surgery cases. 

Our orthopaedic surgeons are highly trained, experienced, and specialised in joint replacement surgeries. They are knowledgeable in the latest research, surgical techniques and implant technology. In addition to performing routine hip and total knee and partial knee replacement surgery, more complex joint surgeries that our service provides include:

• Complex Hip and Knee replacement
• Complex primary joint replacements with deformity correction/bone loss
• Direct Anterior Approach to the Hip
• Robotic assisted surgery
• Computer-assisted navigation
• Revision Surgeries
• Previous Trauma
• Arthroplasty in acute trauma
• Treatment for peri-prosthetic fractures in arthroplasty
• Severe inflammatory arthritis/Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
  
  

Further to patient care, we also have a strong research and educational emphasis to be at the forefront of medical techniques available to our patients.

Foot and Ankle Fellowship

Program Overview

This Fellowship at Tan Tock Seng Hospital is a comprehensive 6-month training program designed to provide advanced surgical training in all aspects of foot and ankle surgery. Fellows will have significant exposure to the following:

• Management of foot and ankle deformities
• Use of hexapod external fixators in deformity correction
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Arthroscopy and sports reconstructive surgery
• Trauma
• Diabetic foot and Charcot Arthropathy
• Management of arthritis in the foot and ankle including total ankle replacement
• Multidisciplinary care in management of complex foot and ankle conditions
  
  

Duration

6 Months

Learning Objectives

1. Surgical Techniques and Principles:

• Gain proficiency in performing diverse range of elective and emergency foot and ankle cases including fracture surgery
• Develop skills in minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery (e.g. MIS bunion correction) and arthroscopic surgeries
• Develop skills in application of ring fixators for deformity correction and fracture fixation
• Develop skills in management of complex diabetic foot wounds and Charcot arthropathy

2. Clinical Assessment and Knowledge:

• Learn assessment of simple and complex foot and ankle pathologies in clinic
• Learn about management of foot and ankle conditions in a multidisciplinary team
• Develop skills needed to make sound clinical decisions on management of foot and ankle conditions

  3. Research Exposure:

• Engage in foot and ankle research activities and contribute to research projects that enhance clinical practices and patient outcomes
• Participate in quality improvement projects and clinical innovation

Training Plan

Overall Structure: The fellowship will consist of a mix of clinical and operative training, with a focus on hands-on experience and on-the-job learning. Below is a typical week’s schedule

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
AM	OT	Clinic	Clinic/OT	Research	OT
PM	OT	Clinic	Clinic/OT	Clinic/OT	OT

Key Learning Components:

• Clinical Training in Foot and Ankle:
  • Participate in outpatient clinics focusing on preoperative assessments and postoperative care
  • Assist in and perform under supervision elective and emergency foot and ankle surgeries
  • Participate in surgical ward rounds to learn about inpatient management of elective and emergency foot and ankle cases
  • Participate in department teaching, multidisciplinary team discussions, inter-hospital meetings 
• Course Attendance:
  • Attend a sawbone / cadaveric workshop/course on foot and ankle surgical techniques
• Project Completion:
  • Complete a project or presentation that reflects the learning experience and research exposure gained during the fellowship
  • Engage in structured, mentor-guided learning, with clearly defined goals and measurable outcomes over the course of the six-month assignment
• Additional Activities:
  • Opportunities for mentorship and constructive feedback from experienced faculty members
  • Attend social events to network with experienced surgeons

Prerequisites

• Completion of surgical residency or equivalent, with at least 1 year of post-specialty practice
• Proficiency in English
• Good attitude, conduct, and professional standing
• Successful completion of an online interview session with faculty
• Submission of certification for completion of specialist training, vaccination records and Singapore Medical Council (SMC) documentation for practice in Singapore

Fellowship Summary

The Foot and Ankle Fellowship at Tan Tock Seng Hospital is designed for surgeons committed to enhancing their expertise in advanced foot and ankle surgeries. Upon completion of the fellowship, it is expected that fellows will be well equipped with the necessary expertise to manage the range of foot and ankle conditions including diabetic foot pathology, trauma (including sports trauma) and elective foot and ankle surgery in adults in a consultant practice.

For further details and application procedures, please contact the fellowship coordinator in Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Spine Surgery Fellowship

Advancing Excellence in Spine Surgery

The Spine Fellowship Program at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) offers an immersive and comprehensive training experience covering the full spectrum of spinal disorders. Our program provides exposure to complex spinal pathology, including deformity, degenerative conditions, trauma, osteoporosis, infection, tumors, and both cervical and lumbar spine diseases.

Why Choose TTSH?

At TTSH, our dedicated team of five orthopaedic spine surgeons collaborates closely with our neurosurgical colleagues, ensuring a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care. Fellows will be actively involved in clinical decision-making, surgical planning, and execution, gaining expertise in both traditional and cutting-edge spine surgery techniques.

Comprehensive Surgical Exposure

We provide hands-on training in:

• Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS Fusions) OLIF, TLIF, corpectomy
• Endoscopic spine surgery at  Uniportal & Biportal techniques
• Robotic & navigation-assisted spine surgery
• Open surgery for complex spinal pathology
• Motion preservation techniques such as Cervical disc replacements
  
  

Fellowship Experience

Fellows will:

• Assist and perform a wide range of spine surgeries under expert guidance
• Participate in research, clinics, and ward management
• Gain experience in advanced spinal navigation, robotics, motion preservation, and minimally invasive techniques

Sports Surgery Fellowship

The Sports Surgery team at Tan Tock Seng Hospital prides itself on its collaborative nature and tightly knit unit. A fellowship program with us offers unparalleled exposure to all facets of orthopaedic sports surgery and arthroscopic surgery. Under the mentorship of four fully board-certified surgeons, fellows gain experience in the field of joint preservation and reconstructive surgery:

• Adjunct Associate Professor Lee Keng Thiam, Head of Service, Senior Consultant
• Assistant Professor Tan Teong Jin Lester, Senior Consultant
• Dr. Ho Wei Loong Sean, Consultant
• Dr. T. Jegathesan, Consultant
  
  

The primary focus of our sub-specialty care include:

• Shoulder arthroscopy and arthroplasty
• Elbow arthroscopy and ligament reconstruction
• Hip arthroscopy
• Knee arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction and malalignment surgery
  
  

In general, the weekly structure will include 3 OT sessions with 2 clinics per week, with protected time for clinical scholarly and academic research activities. The fellows will assist with ward duties but will not be required to perform on-call duties.

Fellows who are interested in the sports surgery fellowship should ideally have completed one prior year of arthroscopic surgery experience to fully maximize the learning opportunity. It is expected that the fellows will take on an active and engaged role in periodic teaching, sub-specialty rounds and journal clubs. The fellows are also required to contribute to the research output of the unit. The fellowship experience will also provide opportunities for access to regional and local conferences and courses.

Interested applicants are strongly recommended to join the Sports Surgery team as a fellow for a duration of 6 months, with shorter durations being possible on a case-to-case basis. Funding for fellowship positions are available but not guaranteed. Fellows are also encouraged to apply 1 year in advance prior to the commencement of the intended fellowship duration, with successful applicants being notified at least 6 to 12 months prior to starting the fellowship program.

Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship 

The Trauma fellowship program at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) offers a robust, immersive training experience in complex trauma.

The orthopaedic trauma unit functions as an integrated team with 3 dedicated trauma consultants. Fellows will be exposed to a wide range of trauma cases with substantial hands-on experience with both conventional and cutting-edge technology and techniques. 

Located centrally in Singapore, TTSH is a Level 1 Trauma Center with the highest trauma caseload in the country. As Singapore's second-largest hospital, with a 1,200-bed capacity, TTSH offers comprehensive trauma care supported by a multidisciplinary team comprising Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, and Hand & Reconstructive Surgery. 

The hospital has a strong emphasis on orthogeriatric care, featuring specialized programs for geriatric fracture management. TTSH is also at the forefront of medical innovation, incorporating navigational technology and 3D printing to enhance patient care.

Fellowship Objectives

The TTSH Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship provides specialized training in managing complex trauma, with a focus on:

• Core Trauma Cases:
• Upper limb fracture fixation (Clavicle, Proximal humerus, Humerus, Distal humerus, Proximal and mid shaft Radius Ulnar)
• Lower limb fracture fixation (Hip, Femur, Distal femur, Tibial plateau, tibia, ankle, Pilon, Calcaneum)
• Advanced Trauma Cases:
• Pelvic, sacral, scapula and acetabular surgery
• Primary fracture related joint replacements (Shoulder, elbow, hip and knee fixation and replacement)
• Advanced Surgical Techniques:
• Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), including plating, intramedullary nailing, and nail plate constructs
• Navigational techniques for fracture fixation
• 3D printing for preoperative anatomical modelling, surgical planning, and intraoperative guide utilization for osteotomies and patient-specific instrumentation
• Post-traumatic deformity correction
• Management of non-unions, bone defects, and bone infections
• Orthogeriatric Care:
• Collaborative management by a multidisciplinary team comprising orthopaedic surgeons, geriatricians, rehabilitation physicians, and therapists
• Specialized pathways for hip fractures and lower limb geriatric fractures
  
  

Eligibility criteria

• Board-certified or board-eligible orthopaedic surgeons with at least 1 year of post speciality practice
• Demonstrated interest in orthopaedic trauma surgery
• Proficiency in English
• Open to international applicants

Duration and structure

• Fellowship duration: 6 to 12 months
• Hands-on clinical training under expert supervision
• Active participation in multidisciplinary trauma case discussions
• Opportunities for research and academic contributions

Benefits

• Exposure to high-volume, high-complexity trauma cases with ample hands-on training
• Training in state-of-the-art surgical techniques and cutting-edge technology such as navigation and 3D printing
• Collaboration with a world-class trauma team
• Access to research and ongoing medical education opportunities